SERIOUS Problems! w/ Panasonic Slot DVD in external enclosure

iamConceyted · 02-23-2005, 09:30 AM

Well, I am currently in the process of building a car pc for my Z. Everything is sitting in my room built as we speak. So last night I finally go out and buy the proper extensions I need to get everything installed into the car. Now at this time everything was working perfect, no problems with any of the components.

So I plug my new 10ft usb Male A to Male B into my computer and then the External USB enclosure I purchased(from http://www.centrix-intl.com/details....6zxxzEX-BLK-01) for my CW-8123-B. Keep in mind that before I started using the new cable everything was working flawlessly. So I plug the new cable in and the drive just keeps blinking, I go to play a cd rom, and it wont recognize the drive. So I reboot, try again, nothing! Then i put a dvd in, it works... So I start thinking, maybe its something with this cable, so I try a Male A to Female A extension and use the mini cable that came with the enclosure. Same problem.
At this point I am already frustrated. So I start playing around with different combinations to no avail. I ended up getting to the point where I even disassembled my two front case usb ports and plugged the drive, with the short cord it works on, into a front one. Same thing happened. So now I have this 1 foot usb Male A to Male B that works with the enclosure/slimline drive but ONLY when plugging it into one of the usbs connected directly to the motherboard(one of the 4 rear ports) any other extension or different longer cable, or trying to use the frontal usb ports does not work.

SOMEONE HELP i am begining to lose sleep over this. I am already late for my class because I am taking the time trying to type this out with as much detail as possible so I can get some good help. Whatever advice or information you can give me is appreciated! (Even if it is, "ditch the enclosure get a new one")
Thank you in advance....

-Chris

BeaverWise · 02-23-2005, 09:54 AM

Sounds like a power issue. Are you powering the drive solely from the USB port? If so, the length of the cable could be your problem.

drait · 02-23-2005, 10:17 AM

I'm most certain it's power related, as I have the same external case and slim drive. I tried a 10ft USB2 extension cable and it would work maybe 10-15% of the time. That was even using the PS/2 for power (via the Y cable that the enclosure comes with; although the PS/2 was also extended 10ft). So most likely if you take the enclosure plug and splice it into one of the +5V leads (and ground) from the M1 or Opus or what have you, it'll work just fine. That's my next rainy weekend project.

iamConceyted · 02-23-2005, 11:30 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by drait

I'm most certain it's power related, as I have the same external case and slim drive. I tried a 10ft USB2 extension cable and it would work maybe 10-15% of the time. That was even using the PS/2 for power (via the Y cable that the enclosure comes with; although the PS/2 was also extended 10ft). So most likely if you take the enclosure plug and splice it into one of the +5V leads (and ground) from the M1 or Opus or what have you, it'll work just fine. That's my next rainy weekend project.

enclosure plug meaning the ps/2 usb plug setup? I guess i could do that... anyone else. And I do think you are right, it is a power issue

iamConceyted · 02-23-2005, 02:59 PM

It is the power issue.

I plugged the 10ft usb cable Male A to Male B like normal. Then I plugged the ps2 and usb into my other computer (using its power supply for the power) and the cd rom recognized and booted right up.

My concern now, however, is that the powersupply i am currently running claims to be 200 watts. The opus is 150 watts. When I attempted to plug in both usb and ps2 into the car computer it automatically shut off and wouldnt boot up (lack of power). So, is my opus going to even put out enough watts to be able to Power all of this?!

I bought the 150w Opus because of its high power output and startup/shutdown control. I would hate to have to use a SECOND opus.... the price just keeps growing

Thanks for the quick responses guys, at least i can sleep now!

iamConceyted · 02-24-2005, 09:15 PM

okay i just wired the power cable to my power supply and it drains too much power so it wont start up. then i put it on my big desktop and the controller went boom. now i need to order a new enclosure and i need suggestions for one that WORKS

Update: So i Bought another enclosure exactly like I had before it blew up. I found out what I did wrong. Red = 5v Yellow = 12v. Wish I would have realized this before I connected it all together

. Oh Well, I have all my wiring fixed and read for when the new enclosure comes in, hoping this will solve my problem and i can be done with this aggravating issue!

djScript · 02-25-2005, 06:03 PM

I just got my external slim line enclosure from Centrix and it has resurrected my panasonic drive!! I thought it was already hosed. I had been using an IDE-USB adapter but the drive can't recognize music and data CDs but can play DVDs without any problems.

Reading this thread got me thinking that I might also have power issues with this drive so I went ahead and ordered the enclosure. The drive is now fully functional but kinda picky with some CDR discs.

Also, props to Centrix for extremely fast service. Got the enclosure in 2 days from CA to MD.

EsKALad · 02-25-2005, 11:43 PM

i bought the same housing and same problem! in the house computer it worked fine..usb powered it flawlessly! when i got to the car kapoot! no power! what i did was extend the 5v and ground from the molex in the computer to the front where i installed it in my dash..i soddered it onto the board and made quick connect disconnects.... now it works flawlessly! powers up everytime! u need to power it off of the molex...cuz the usb power is bull****! and is it just me or is the case cheap as hell? i felt like i got cheated when i got it in the mail...damn paid 33 dollars for plastic! but i used the pcb board off it anyway! its good now.

c0rrupti0n · 02-26-2005, 09:54 AM

Hey guys, I wanted to note that I have the same drive and have the same issue. Ive spent many months on this god damn issue. Been through 4 cd-rom drives, 2 cdrom ensclosure cases,tried two different brands of enclosures, rewired ensure car with thicker guage power wire for this cdrom alone, and burned through 3 12v to 6v converters. My end result, It seems that the drive is extremely picky when it comes to its amperage needs. My current setup works fine with reading mp3z, and audio cd's and DVD's. However its impossible to install a program or copy paste more than like 5 megs from a cd with data. Inother words the drive is still very very picky... Im currently running guage 12 wire from 12v lead of opus to 12 to 6v converter (800ma) to cdrom. Had to also run the a 12foot USB cable directly off the mainboard, because it does not like usb hubs and half the time wasnt being seen. So then when usb reaches cdrom its then convertered from laptop pin array to standard IDE then hits cd-rom. Im using the converter simply because the 5v lead from the opus wasnt providing enough power. I also learned that sence the drive remains in the dash things tend to overheat and melt. I had to gut the converter make a custom headsink for it and added a blower fan under the dash for cooling, also added a cpu fan that rests on top of the cd-rom for more cooling. This time round I put fuses on every power lead, not planning to burn out any more expensive drives... Let me know if anyone has any further recommendations. Im burnt...

choyak · 02-26-2005, 02:27 PM

I just got this case as well and I noticed that mine must be different because there is a power jack along with the USB. The case came with another USB cable so you plug dual USB cables for the power. This should be 1 amp because USB is certified for 500mA per port. The DVD/CDRW uses sometimes 1.5 amps so the USB power is insufficient. I did not install it into teh car yet, but it seems to operate properly when you use a 5 volt regulated switching wall wart in place of the additional USB port.

c0rrupti0n · 02-26-2005, 08:38 PM

I appreciate the input Choyak, I was under the impression that portable cd players, along with laptop drives an such alike need no more than 800ma. How did you gather that it needed 1.5? Because this just might very well be my issue.

EsKALad · 02-26-2005, 08:41 PM

corruption you mentioned a 12 volt to 6 volt converter?? doesnt the drive need 5 volts? maybe thats why its acting up..i wired my str8 to the molex and its fine now!

c0rrupti0n · 02-27-2005, 11:51 AM

Naw the fact that its one voltage off wont make a differents or hurt it, so long as its a voltage higher... I tried originally simply using the 5 volt molex, it wasnts pushing enough amperage after 2 feet. CD Drive would just blink and was unable to read anything. :/

guavo · 02-28-2005, 09:23 AM

it's a 5V @ 2A drive = 10W... (Yes, you could probably run it at 6V @ 800mA, but that's still only 4.8W and you are running it outside of manufactuerers voltage specifications...)

USB is only 500mA per port

500mA x 2 = 1A, so running the drive off of 2 USB ports is still only half the required peak current for proper device operation... USB is not like hooking something up to a battery, the USB controller regulates the current.

Why not just extend a +5V (Red wire, Yellow is +12V) molex off the PSU using standard 18GA wire?

c0rrupti0n · 03-01-2005, 08:31 AM

Humm... So amerate effects voltage? I thought it was just the speed as which is flowed...

Reason i cannot just extend a 5volt connection from the molex, is because this was my original setup that tooks about 2 months of messing with to realise it doesnt work past 2 feet of distance... Amperage drops after 2 feet and there for drive is totally incapable of reading anything...